Benjamin Yeo started his music education at the age of 7 and developed a passion for music ever since. He learnt the cornet and trumpet in his Secondary School and then joined the St. Andrew’s Junior College Concert Band upon graduation where he was also appointed the Student Conductor. He took trumpet lessons under Mr. Richard Adams (Head of Music, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts) and was part of the pioneer batch of the Bugis Village Brass Band then. He has also performed with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra for Tchaikovsky Festival 2004 held at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore.

During his National Service, he was enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces Bands where he had the opportunity to participate in both the Brunei International Tattoo with the Parade Bands as well as Wonju International Tattoo in South Korea with Central Band in 2006.

Being very active in the local band scene, he has performed for tertiary groups such as the Nanyang Technological University Symphonic Band and Singapore Management University Symphonia.

His experience in band directing has enabled him to work with students across a wide spectrum of educational institutions – from Primary to Tertiary levels. As a band enthusiast, he started writing and arranging music for wind bands and ensembles at the age of 15, and his works have been performed publicly in local and overseas concerts.

Benjamin is also part of the family of composers of C.L. Barnhouse Company in the USA. He is the second Asian whose compositions have been accepted by one of the famous and long-lasting publishing companies in the world. His works, “Beyond the Highlands” (’Command’ Band Series) and “Legend of the Ancient Hero” (’Concert’ Band Series) were both recorded by the renowned Washington Winds at Omega Studios, Rockville, Maryland. ”Beyond the Highlands” was also selected to be on the “New Band Music Reading” list at the Midwest Clinic 2007, an International Band and Orchestra Conference held in Chicago; and his second work, “Legend of the Ancient Hero” was ranked the Top 100 out of the 800 over titles in the American Band College/Band World Magazine/Western International Band Clinic Literature List 2008-2009. His works have also taken their places on both the International and National Festival/Contest list such as the Bi-annual Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging for Concert Bands. As an active composer, he writes for both commissioned and non-commissioned works.

Currently, he is majoring in Music and Education at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, with Composition Studies under Dr. Kelly Tang and Harmony Studies under Dr. Eddy Chong. He is also serving his 4th year tenure as the Resident Conductor of the Saints Alumni Band, Singapore.

For more information on his works/projects, please visit his blogsite: http://benjaminyeo.wordpress.com